Mamadshoeva responded to the accusations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Ulfatkhanim Mamadshoeva responded to the accusations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan: “I have nothing more to say, except for a clear conscience and compassion for my small people – the Pamiris.”

Photo: Internet

Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan reported that the protests in Khorog were organized “on the instructions of Ulfatkhanim Masumovna Mamadshoeva” and for this reason “a criminal case has been initiated by the prosecutor’s office of GBAO against the organizers of the incident.”

Today, on May 17, human rights defender and journalist Mamadshoeva responded to the accusations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs:

“My name is Ulfatkhanim Mamadshoeva, I am a human rights defender and independent journalist. I have nothing more to say about these accusations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, except for a clear conscience and compassion for my small people – the Pamiris.”

Well-known human rights defender Oynikhol Bobonazarova commented on the accusations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs against Ulfatkhanim Mamadshoeva:

“Ulfat is one of those who loves Tajikistan with all her heart. She is the first woman who made tremendous efforts for the independence of Tajikistan. For her, there is no regionalism. She feels the pain of every resident as her own pain.”

Human rights defender Oynikhol Bobonazarova called the accusations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs against Mamadshoeva unfounded and emphasized: “If speaking the truth and not being a sycophant is a sin, then all sycophants are heroes.”

On May 14 and 16, protests took place in Khorog, the administrative center of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, attended by the informal leader of the region, Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov. On May 16, the protests were violently suppressed by law enforcement forces, resulting in at least nine people being injured and one local resident killed.

Protesters put forward three main legitimate demands, including the resignation of the regional chairman and the mayor of Khorog, the release of unlawfully detained citizens, and holding law enforcement officials accountable for the killings of three and the injury of 17 peaceful residents of the region.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that three law enforcement officers were injured; however, the Pamir Daily News portal previously reported that at least six protesters were injured as a result of the clashes.